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Other denominations

Fish pathologist; Pathologist specialising in aquatic animal health.

Description

Fish pathologists research and/or manage issues related to the maintenance of fish's health and well-being, detecting illnessess, anticipating and analysing the main risks affecting species' ability to reproduce, providing solutions for the diseases affecting them and carrying out all necessary preventive measures, at all times ensuring that they use substances that are not harmful for people or the environment. They work in aquaculture operations, both saltwater (marine) and freshwater (continental), and in traditional fishing boats, in all cases ensuring that products are suitable for human consumption.

Tasks

  • Monitor groups of fish, observing any unusual behaviour or increased mortality in order to anticipate the outbreak of diseases in the farm or in specific populations.
  • Select and collect samples in order to analyse and diagnose the physiological state of fish stocks.
  • Train farm staff to detect problems early on the basis of external signs.
  • Carry out or manage relevant clinical tests (chemical or biological) which must be carried out in order to make a diagnosis or continue a treatment process.
  • Define the medicine to be used, the dose and the mode of delivery in order to increase its effectiveness, whether for preventive treatments or existing illnesses.
  • Train staff to apply treatments.
  • Plan the medication and/or preventive measure schedule in line with the fish's reproductive cycle and the nature of the farm and the climate, in the case of an outdoor farm.
  • Propose and implement new treatments and/or improvements to existing ones.
  • Manage the services at the on-site laboratory or external laboratories.
  • Ensure that the final product complies with all relevant quality standards (carry out waste analyses on final products).
  • Monitor the type and levels of medicine used in the farm and ensure that they remain within the limits set out by current environmental regulations.
  • Carry out basic research on the illnesses and/or toxic infections that affect aquatic species and search for the cause and possible solutions.
  • Issue judgments at the request of individuals or administrative bodies on the pathology of a particular group of fish or the cause of mortality (for instance, in the case of river pollution).

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Centre per al desenvolupament professional Porta22

Barcelona Treball (Porta22)
Llacuna, 156-162, 08018 Barcelona
bcn.cat/treball

900533175
Monday to Friday from 9 to 18 h

Generalitat de Catalunya
Uniķ Europea FEDER
Uniķ Europea FSE